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I believe the OP does not exactly understand what an "anti-hook" is.
Like I've said in the other thread, an anti-hook is something that can hurt you on your college application (such as getting suspended). Making USAMO cannot possibly hurt you, as it can only be a plus to one's application.
I think the OP means to ask if USAMO is as big of a hook as say, 5 years ago, to MIT admissions. My answer, after seeing how many qualifiers got rejected, would be no. I do not know the exact reason, but if I had to speculate...
1. They expanded the number of qualifiers (around 200 increase?) a couple of years ago, so that could take away the "prestige" of the competition and also create more qualifiers, thus creating more that get rejected by MIT
2. MIT admissions has changed from being stats oriented to other factors (such as personality). I know that the difference between a 9 on the AIME (which in most cases is passing) and a 6 on the AIME is far greater difference than a 2400 on the SAT and a 2300 on the SAT, but everyone always says how 2400 and 2300 do not make a difference. Maybe now, 9 and 6 on the AIME do not make that big of a difference?
3. I kind of alluded to it above, but getting into a good college like MIT requires far more than stats. They look at personality and character, so as a result, many qualified people just in terms of their stats do not get in, and many lesser qualified people just in terms of their stats do get in (because they have shown far greater passion, creativity, personality...)
Again, I am just speculating...but I hope to put an end to these kinds of discussions because one person's situation is not like another person's situation.
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